Turbotransmission



CL', 1944. J, JANDASEK 2,360,234

TURBO TRANS-MISSION Filed Jan.` 27. 1941 2' sheets-sheet 1 JsEP/f JNDASEK HTTOE/V V 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR` JsEPH /vnAs/EK J. JANDASEK TURBO TRANSMISSION Filed Jan. 27. 1941 oct. 1o, 1944-;

H7706 EV Patented Get. l0, 1944 Joseph Jandasek, Detroit, Mich., assigner toeni dix Aviation Corporation, South Bend,-Ind., a corporation of Delaware i Application January 27, 1941, Serial No. 37.6,152

2 Claims.

This invention relates to turbo transmissions and more particularly to a iiuid operated turbo transmission having reversible means whereby the device may be utilized to transmit power in either direction.

This invention contemplates a turbo transmisl sion wherein a plurality of energy absorbing ro- -tatable turbine members are employed and preferablyA a plurality of reactionary members which may be selectively introduced into the power transmitting iluid circuit to vary the power transmitting characteristics of the device. v

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the steering of vehicles of the so-called Track Layer type wherein the vehicle is propelled by movement of an endless belt orA track member preferably having cleats, such for example as tanks used -for armament purposes. VSuch'vehicles are normally steered by applying a Abrak-- ing force to retard or stop the movement of the track on one side-of the tank or vehicle whereupon the power transmitted to the track on the other side of the vehicle 'exerts a turning force to eilect steering of the vehicle.

An object of this invention'is to provide a turbo drive whereby a steering force may be exerted on a tank by varying the amount of power transmitted to 'propel the tracks on opposite sides'- thereof.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for controlling spaced turbo power transmitting devices wherein means are provided to throttle or decrease the power transmitted by one of the turbo units while at the same time increasing the power transmitted by the other turbo unit` to exert a force to steer a vehicle. Y

^ Still another object of thel invention is to provide a pair of spaced turbo Ypower transmitting devices having novel and improved control means in such a manner that the direction of power transmission may be reversed by movement of the reaction members to one of a plurality` of.

settable positions.

A further object resides in the provision of a novel control means for a turbo transmission device wherein the directionof the flow of power through the device may be reversed by selectively of the arrows.

-positioning a guide wheel member in one of a plurality of settable positions, and wherein means operated by a progressive movement of the guide wheel toward a different settable position is operative to progressively vary the amount oi power transmitted by the device to provide a gradual change of direction of power transmission.

Another object is to provide a turbo transmission having speed varying means interposedbetween a driving shaft and a fluid energizing impeller whereby power may be transmitted to the turbo device at a plurality of varying speeds, and wherein speed varying means associated with a shaft driven by an energy absorbing turbine member may be interposed between said member and a nal driven membertofv'ary the .turning moment transmitted to the iinal driven shaft.

Yet a still further object of the invention resides in the provision of angularly movable force transmitting means for controlling the positionof a guide wheel member with reference to a powerv transmitting iiuid circuit.

Another object is to rprovide a plurality of laterally spaced manually operable means which may be selectively actuated to control spaced power transmitting iluid devices to vary the quantity and direction of power transmitted by said devices to exert a force `to steer a track laying vehicle. v

OtherA objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, submitted 'for' purposes of illustration only, and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views Fig. 1 isa plan View of a track layer vehicl embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a transmission device embodying the presentinvention.

on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows. v

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a mechanism for controlling the 'power transmitting device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. l

Fig. 'l is a'sectional view the line 1-1 of Fig.

taken substantially on Before explaining in detail the present, in! vention it is to be understood that the invention Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially l 2, looking in the direction is notlimited in its ,application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawingasince the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology ortermlinology employed herein is for the purpose of description and'not of limitation.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a vehicle of the track layer type such for example as an armored tank 2 used for armament purposes. The tank 2 has an engine or .prime mover 4 and a pair of spaced longitudinally extending tracks 6 and 8 positioned on the left and right sides of the tank respectively. The tank may be propelled forwardly or backwardly by moving the -tracks 6 or 8 longitudinally of the tank and may be steered by driving the tracks 6 and 8 in-ofpposite. directions relative to eachother or by applying more power to drive one of the tracks than is applied to drive the other.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be observed l that power -may be transmitted from the engine or prime mover 4 by way of a driving shaft I0 operably connected through a two-speed gear box l2 to drive a shaft I4 having a pinion I6 fixed thereto. 'I'he pinion I6 meshes with another pinion gear I8 'operably connected .to a pair of spaced shafts 20 and 22 by means of a splined sleeve 24 concentrically mounted relative to the shafts 20 and 22. The pinion I6 mayl as illustrated, be larger than the pinion i8 to cllive the shafts 20 and 22 faster than the shaft AEach of the shafts- 20 and 22 is operably connected to drive a turbo power transmitting device 26 and 28 respectively having nal driven shafts 30 and 32 respectively. The final driven shafts 30 and 32 may be operably connected to .drive any desired mechanism such for example as the tracks 6 and 8 respectively of the track layer vehicle such for example as a tank illustrated in Fig. 1.

The power transmitting devices 26 and 28 are -symmetrical and are'preferably oppositely disposed to drivethe oppositely directed final driven shafts 30 and 32 in the same directions. Since the power transmitting devices 26 and 28 are synmetrical they will be described simultanerous y.

An impeller hub 34 is' operably connected to the shaft 22 and is provided with spaced web and shroud members 36 and 38 respectively having-suitable blades to denne therebetween a uid circuit 40 wherein fluid may be energized under vanes, associated with a turbine shroud member 44. The turbine shroud 44 is contoured as illustrated and provides a second stage turbine channel 46 and a third stage turbine channel 48 which may be Qoperably connectedv to a turbine web 80 carried by a turbine hub 62 fixed to a driven shaft 84.

A stationary housing 56 is preferably concentrlcally mounted with reference to the impeller and turbine members and is provided with an axially extending portion 68 preferably adjacent the second'stage turbine channel 48. The housing 88 is provided with a plurality of spaced preferably axially extending helixes 80 and- 82 of steppitch which support preferably f'internallythreadedrings and 68. Therinil'i provided with a guide wheel web 68 and ,a guide wheel shroud 10 having a guide wheel channel 12 interposed therebetween.

The ring 66 is provided with a guide wheel web having spaced radially extending portions 14 and 16 which are provided with suitable vanes to form wheel passages 18 and 80 respectively bounded by walls 82 and 84 respectively. The walls 82 and 84 are provided with suitable vanes to form guide wheel channels 86 and 88 bounded by shroud members and 92.

Means associated with the axially movable guide wheel members are provided to transmit power from the impeller to the turbine members in forward and reverse directions.

l One desirable form of such reversible means comprises vanes positioned in the guide wheel channels 12, 18 and 80 respectively to deflect thefluid issuing .from the impeller in such a manner as tmcause it to impinge upon the vanes of the turbine members in such a manner as to drive the driven shaft 54 in the opposite direction to thedirection of rotation of the driving shaft 22.

To transmit power from the driving' to the driven shaft in forward speed the guide wheel channel 12 is withdrawn from the power transmitting fluid circuit, and the helically threaded ring 66 is moved on the helical thread 6x2 ofthe stationary member 68 to withdraw the guide wheel channels 18 and 80 .from the fluid circuit and move the channels 86 and 88 into alignment with the second and third stage turbines 46 and 48 respectively. The guide wheel channels 86 and 88 are provided with vanes suitably contoured to deflect the liquid circulating in the power transmitting fluid circuit in the direction to exert 'force on the turbine members to rotate them in the same direction as the impeller rotates. Power will then be transmitted to the driven shaft 54 in the forward direction.

With the guide wheel members in the position illustrated the device operates to transmit power in the reverse direction, wherein the driven shaft 54 rotates in the opposite direction to the driving shaft 22. To transform the device to operate in the forward direction the guide wheel member 64 ls moved axially on the helical threads 60 whereupon the shroud member 18, which as.

illustrated is of considerable width axially, throttles or partially obstructs the power transmitting fiuid circuit thereby progressively interrupting the fluid Aflow and decreasing the quantity of power transmitted. As the movement of the guide wheel member progresses the shroud 10 moves across the power transmitting uid circuit and is progressively withdrawn therefrom. When the shroud 1a ls fully withdrawn from the circuit the space between the impeller channel 40 and the first stage turbine channel 42 is unobstructed and acts as a free vortex whereupon uid from the impeller may pass directly into the turbine channel 42. Remarkably enicient transmission of power is thus effected.

The turbine or driven shaft 54is concentrical- 1y aligned with reference to an axially extending drum |00, fixed toand carried by the final driven shaft 32. One-way driving means l02 may be interposed between the driven shaft 64 and the drum |88 carried by the final driven shaft 32 to driwa the final driven shaft a2 in forward direction at substantially the same speed of rotation as the turbine or driven shaft 64.

When the guide wheel channels 12,' 18 and 88 are positioned in the power transmitting fluid A the reverse direction. the power is transmitted from the driven shaft 54 through one-way driving means |04 to a gear |06. The gear |06 meshes with a pinion |08 having a driving pinion which meshes with a pinion ||2 carried 5 by the drum |00. The gear ratio is preferably -such that when the turbine or driven shaft 54 is rotated in reverse direction the flow of power through the pinion gears |08, I I0 and ||2 is such that power is transmitted at higher torque mul- 10 tiplication and at lower speedwhere an increase of torque in reverse direction is required or would be desirable.

Manually operable means may be provided to control the position of the guide wheel circuits 12, 18 and 80 with reference to the power transmitting fluid circuit `to transmit power in reverse or forward direction. One desirable form of such control means is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 wherein actuating members |20 which may be 20 of any suitable formare operably connected with the guide wheel rings 64 and 66 having angularly related helical threads 6'0 and 62 of steep pitch by means of suitable `ball and socket connections |22. The members |20 are operably connected 25 to rods |26 and |21 respectively by means of ball connections |24, and the rods |26 and |21 are operably connected through links |28 and |29 with arms |30 and |3| fixed to a shaft |32.

Each of the turbo units 26v and 28 is provided 30 with a control shaft |32 and |33 respectively. The shafts |32 and |33 controlling the units 26 and 28 respectively may be operably connected through links |34 and rods |36 with manually operable levers |38 and |40 respectively. The man- 35 ually operable levers |38-and |40 are illustrated in Fig. 5 in a'. neutral position. The turbo units 26 and 28 may be selectively and independently controlled by the levers |38 and |40 respectively,

land one of the turbo units can be operating to 40- transmit power in one direction while the other unit is transmitting power in the opposite di# rection. Both units may transmit power in forward or in reverse direction.

In the operation of this device when it is desired to drive the vehicle in forward direction the levers |38 and |40 are actuated forwardly in the, direction of the arrow |42, as illustrated in Fig.

5, whereupon the interconnected links and levers illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 move the ball 50 joints |22 from the full line position to the dotted line position |40 thereby moving the guide wheel channels 12, l'and 60 out of the fluid circuit .and introducing the'guide wheel channels 86 and 38 into the power transmitting fluid cir- 55 cuitto transmit power in forward direction.

When it is desired tosteer the vehicle,.such for example' as to the left, the left handle |38 is moved backwardly against the direction of the arrow |42. The interconnected links and levers V then move the shroud 10 axially into the power transmitting fluid circuit of the turbo unit 26 lto progressively throttle the circuit and decrease the 'power transmitted to the nal driven shaft 30 of the left hand turbo unit 26. Wherev 65 the device is embodied in a track laying vehicle such for example as the tank illustrated-in Fig. 1, the power applied to propel the left track 6 would be decreased by movement ofthe shroud 10 into the power transmitting uid circuit of 70 the turbo unit 42li. J

As the power transmitted by the turbo unit 26 is decreased, the power exerted .to drive the im-'f'l peller of the unit 28 is increased because of the interconnection of the pinion I3 and the shafts 75 20 and 22 therewith. Greater power is therefore exerted by the turbo unit 28 to propel the right hand track 0 of the track laying vehicle. The increase of the propelling -force exerted on the right hand track 8. and the decrease of the propelling force exerted on the left hand track 6 exert a steering force on the tank to steer it to the left.

If a more rapid turn to the left is desired the handle |38 is moved further backwardly against the direction of the arrow |112 whereupon the g'uide wheel channels 10 and 80 will be introduced into the power transmitting fluid circuit to operate the turbo unit 26 in reverse whereupon the final driven shaft 30 rotates in the directon opposite to the direction of rotation of the driving shaft 20 of the unit 26. The handle |40 controlling the turbo unit 28 is maintained in the forward position whereupon the guide wheel circuit 12 will be withdrawn from the power transmitting fluid circuit and the guide wheel circuits 86 and 88 will be introduced into the powertransmitting fluid circuit to drive the nal driven shaft 32 of the unit 26 in the same direction as the driving shaft 22.

A force is thus exerted by the turbo unit 28 lto propel the vehicle or tank 2`forwardly with reference to the right tracks 3 on its right side.

turn is desired, the power exerted to drive theV track of the tank on the inside of the curve can be decreased and the power exerted to drive the track of the tank on the outside of the curve can be increased. Virtually the entire power of the prime mover is thus available to propel the tank even when a curve is being executed. .A marked improvement is thus effected over the conventional designs wherein a brake is applied to restrain the track on the inside of 'the curve while the same driving force is exerted to propel the track on the outside of the curve. Where a rapid turn is desired the entire effective power vof the prime mover l can be exerted to propel the tracks 6 and 3 in opposite directions. A

marked improvement is thus effected over designsv wherein power can only be applied to one side of a tank to effect a turn.

nected to the turbines, nal driven shafts, yoneway driving means between each turbine shaft and its associated final driven shaft whereby power may be transmitted to each final driven l shaft at a xed gear ratio when its turbine shaft is rotating in the forward direction, one-way driving and gear means interconnecting each turbine shaft and its associated nal drivenshaft whereby the final driven shaft may be driven in the/reverse direction to transmit increase torque when its associated turbine shaft is rotating in reverse, spaced stationary members, spaced reaction members associated with the stationary members, each reaction member including a plurality of spaced channel portions to transmit power in the forward direction or in reverse, throttling means to vary the effective cross sectional area of each power transmitting fluid circuit, to vary the power transmitted by each of,

said fluid transmissions, and separate manually operable means controlling theoposition of the throttling means of each mild transmission whereby the power transmitted to one of said turbine shafts may be progressively varied, said manually operable means also controlling the reaction members of each uid transmission to transmit power in reverse with increased torque multiplication to one of the tracks of the vehicle and to transmit power in the forward direction to the other tracks of the Vehicle to exert a force to Steer the vehicle.

2. In a ,track laying vehicle having spaced l longitudinally extending` tracks, an engine, a 'multi-speed gear box, connecting means between the engine and the gears of the multi-speed gear box, spaced impeller shafts driven by the gears of the multi-speed gear box, spaced fluid transmissions comprising impellers and turbines cooperating to form spaced power transmitting fluid circuits, spaced turbine shafts operably connected to the turbines, final driven shafts, connecting means between the final driven shafts and the spaced tracks of the vehicle, one-way driving means between each turbineshaft and its associated final driven shaft whereby power may be transmitted to each final driven shaft at a. sub# stantially 1:1 gear ratio when its turbine shaft is rotating in the forward direction, one-way driving and gear means interconnecting each turbine shaft and its associated ilnal driven shaft whereby the final driven shaft may be driven in the reverse direction to transmit increased torque when its associated `turbine shaft is rotating in vary the effective cross sectional area of each power transmitting fluid circuit to progressively decrease the power transmitted by each of Asaid fluid transmissions, and separate manually oper- -able means controlling the position of the throttling means of each fluid transmission whereby the power transmitted to one of said turbine shafts may be progressively varied, said manually voperable means also controlling the reaction members of each fluid transmission to transmit power in reverse with increased torque multipli1 cation to one of the tracks of the vehicle and to transmit power in the 'forward direction to the other tracks of the vehicle to exert alforoo to steer the vehicle. i

` JOSEPH JANDASEK. 

